Necktie guide device



Feb. 22, 1966 F. T. HYPPS 3,235,880

NECKTIE GUIDE DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G FIG. 2

Feb. 22, 1966 F. T. HYPPS NECKTIE GUIDE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1963 FIG 7 24 FIG 9 United States Patent 3,235,880 NECKTIE GUIDE DEVICE Frank T. Hypps, 401 E. 65th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Aug. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 300,465 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-152) This invention relates to a self-adjusting flexible device for shaping the drape dimples or creases in a necktie when knotted and which will prevent the loss of the drape while the tie is being worn. A feature of the device of the invention is that it enhances rather than restricts the natural drape of a tie.

The drape of a necktie is reflective of its quality of construction, the fabric of which it is made, the pattern of the tie, as well as the finish of the tie. Collectively, these factors impart to each tie an individuality in its final drape which is not normally controllable by the wearer. The drape of a tie is primarily expressed by the shell and/ or front apron of the tie after it has been knotted. The drape is indicated by one or more dimples or longitudinal creases which extend from the bottom of the tie knot when finally formed.

The tendency of a tie not to hold its original drape is the result of the basic constructional features of the conventional tie. The shell or outer fabric of a tie is cut on the bias, rather than with the cloth. The lining of the tie, however, which is provided to give body to the tie, is cut with the cloth. On the other hand, the knot of a tie is formed in a counter clockwise manner around the rear apron of the tie, with the face of the knot formed in a horizontal plane and held in shape by frictional pressure. These conditions create counter fabric stresses in the shell and lining of the tie and affect the tendency of the tie to return to its tubular shape. These stresses cause the tie knot to creep and to release the frictional pressure. This causes the tie to lose its dimples or creases.

Different types of necktie fabrics, such as silk, acetate, crepe, Dacron, nylon, pongee, satin, shantung, and the like, have variations in the frictional pressure they can exert, as well as in their inherent resiliency. These variations, in turn, affect the tendency of the tie to creep, which also causes the tie to lose its dimples or creases. Efforts to prevent a tie from losing its shape by tying the knot tighter, and thus increasing the frictional resistance to creeping, result in the unnecessary stretching of the tie fabric and cause it to lose its original resiliency. This, in turn, lessens the life of the tie, or necessitates more frequent ironing of the tie to reshape it.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a necktie guide device which will serve to hold the dimples or creases of a knotted tie while the tie is Worn, regardless of the normal stresses within the tie itself.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated which is Wholly concealed when the tie is worn yet which remains continually effective.

It is another object of the invention to provide a necktie guide device which can be used with ties of all sizes and shapes, and materials of construction, and which will automatically accommodate itself to the particular tie with which it is used.

These and other objects are realized in accordance with the invention by a necktie guide device which includes a flexible elastic strip member formed to contain the tie and having spaced-apart portions provided with cooperating fastener means for removably fastening the adjacent portions together in face-to-face relationship and to form a stud or prong for shaping the central crease or dimple in the tie. Preferably the elastic member is combined with relatively rigid crease-receiving and holding means and, advantageously, finger-grip means are provided adjacent the fastener means.

It is a feature of the invention that the necktie guide device remains firmly in place when applied to the tie.

It is a further feature of the invention that the guide device will effectively fit any conventional necktie and will not injure the tie or be unable to accommodate it.

It is another feature of the invention that the tie guide device can be readily attached to and detached from the tie even by persons who have poor manual dexterity.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knot portion of a partly knotted necktie, showing the dimpled or creased section of the tie provided with a necktie guide device embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the arrangement of FIG. 1, after the tying of the knot has been completed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the guide device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

. FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 5, in assembled relationship with a necktie;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the relatively rigid component of the embodiment of FIG. 7 after it has been creased or corrugated to shape the dimples or creases of a tie;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, illustrated in assembled relationship with the tie; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a conventional knotted bow tie provided with a guide device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a partly knotted four-in-hand tie 20 in which the knot cone 22 has been formed and the front panel 24 is about to be drawn down and tightened in the knot cone to complete the formation of the knot. As seen in FIG. 1, the front panel 24 has secured to it a necktie guide device according to the invention, designated generally at 30, which forms and holds the dimples or creases 32 in the front panel, which appear below the knot cone when the tying of the knot is completed, as shown in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 3, the guide device 30 comprises a strip 34 of flexible and elastic material, e.g. conventional elastic fabric, having free ends 36 and 37. The outside faces of the two free ends are provided with the mating portions of a fastener, e.g. the two parts 39 and 40 (socket and stud) of a conventional snap fastener, secured to the elastic strip 34, as by stitching. Adjacent the fastener parts on the two ends of the strip 34 are finger tabs 41 and 42 of a non-elastic fabric, or of flexible plastic. In the embodiment illustrated, the finger tabs underlie the snap fastener parts and the stitching which secures the fastener parts to the strip 34 also suitably secures the tabs. Each tab is adapted to be grasped by the thumb and forefinger of the user for engaging or disengaging the snap fastener conveniently and effectively, even if the user is not dexterous. The main body of the elastic strip 34 is provided with a U-shaped trough 45 at its center, suitably formed from a relatively rigid material, such as a plastic, e.g. a celluloid (cellulose nitrate film), which is readily secured to the elastic strip 34 in any convenient manner, as by stitching.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, when the two ends of the elastic strip 34 are bent around the tie 24 and the snap ice fastener parts interlocked, the overlying ends of the strip form an inwardly-directed stud or prong 46 which fits into the trough 45 and forces and holds the central crease of the tie in the trough. The remainder of the tie is then creased by the action of the elastic Strip as it is encircled around the tie. Since the joining of the snap fastener parts has the effect of shortening the elastic strip, the result is that the elastic strip firmly grips the tie apron, with varying pressure, and shapes itself into conformity with the cone shape of the final knot. This firmly holds the shape creased into the tie apron, regardless of the nature of the tie or of the bulk of the tie. After the elastic strip has been assembled around the tie as shown in FIG. 1, and in FIG. 4, the knot is completed, as shown in FIG. 2, with the guide device being wholly concealed within the knot cone 22.

While the guide device above described embodies the features of the invention, and is fully effective to form and hold dimples or creases in a tie, additional creasefroming means may be provided, and such means are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, as shown, the central trough or socket 45 is supplemented by lateral ribs 48, also suitably formed from a celluloid or other relatively rigid material, and secured, as by stitching, to the elastic strip 34. The ribs 43 serve, as seen in FIG. 4, to form and hold additional creases in the tie in addition to the main central crease or dimple 32 formed by the trough 45 and the cooperating stud 46 defined by the overlying ends of the elastic strip.

The ribs 43 can be given even greater holding power by providing cooperating fasteners to hold the tie in contact with them. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, there are provided arms 50 formed from flexible but inelastic material, e.g. cloth, with each arm having a fastener 52 at its end. The fasteners 52 can be of any conventional construction and are most conveniently metal clips of the type used to clip paper together, or other suitable spring or friction clips. As seen in FIG. 4, after the tie has been positioned over the ribs 48, the fasteners 52 are clipped over it.

I am aware that various necktie guide devices have been heretofore proposed, but these prior devices have all been completely rigid and have failed to provide for proper accommodation to the individual tie, with the result that they have not been wholly satisfactory and have not effectively solved the problem of properly holding a necktie in a natural creased and dimpled form.

The necktie guide device of this invention makes possible the shaping of the ultimate drape of the tie from the large end of the tie knot and it increases the internal fabric friction of the knot-forming material to hold the dimples or creases shaped into the tie. It preserves the resiliency of the tie fabric and the purpose of the bias cut of the fabric, and the construction of the tie, as reflected in the natural knot formed and the final drape of the apron of the tie. The device makes it possible to avoid any excessive straining of the tie fabric occasioned by tightening of the tie to force it to hold its drape. It permits the loosening from and return of the tie knot to the shirt collar, as the wearer may desire, without the need to reshape the knot. The device is always hidden within the tie knot and is not visible or obviously evident in the shaping of the drape of the tie. The device is flexible to accommodate the varying thicknesses of necktie material occasioned by different fabrics and the varying types of linings used in ties, and it conforms to the holow cone shape of the tie knot and thus aids in holding itself within the cone by the telescopic friction of the device within the outer cone of the finished knot. Furthermore, the device of the invention is capable of adapting itself to a variety of individual shapings of the drape of the tie not normally achieved in the traditional tying of a tie by the average person. Such variations may take the form of multiple creases, or a reverse profile of the traditional dimples, and the like.

It will, of course, be apparent that the necktie guide device of my invention may vary from the forms above described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. In all cases, however, the device has a flexible, elastic member and cooperating fastening means which brings opposed surfaces of the elastic member in overlying relationship to form a stud or prong. However, the elastic strip does not need to have free ends as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 adjoining the snap fastener parts, but may be a continuous strip forming a closed loop, i.e. the free ends illustrated may be joined in end-abutting relationship, so that the elastic strip is continuous between the two parts of the snap fastener.

Alternatively, the elastic strip may be continuous between the snap fastener parts, as just described, but it may have free ends remote from the fastener, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, which is particularly suitable for so-called slim ties, the snap fastener parts 39 and 40 are secured to an elastic strip 34a at points spaced apart from the center line 60 of the strip 34a, so that this portion of the strip forms a prong 46a when the snap fastener is closed. In the embodiment illustrated, finger tabs such as the tabs 41 and 42 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 have been omitted and the fastener can be closed and opened by grasping the adjacent portions of the strip 34a. Such finger tabs can, however, be provided. In this embodiment, the tie is held by lateral fasteners 62 secured, as by stitching, to the end 64 of the elastic strip 34a. The fasteners 62 can be spring or friction clips, like the clips 52 of the previously-described embodiment, and may extend the entire width of the elastic strip, as illustrated, or only part of the width. In any case, these fasteners grip the sides of the tie so that a dimple or crease is formed in it when the snap fastener is closed and the prong 46a bears against the center of the tie panel 24 and holds the dimples when the device is inserted in the tie cone 22, as seen in FIG. 6.

In another embodiment, the trough 45 and the ribs 48 shown in FIG. 3 can be replaced by a strip 70 of relatively rigid but nevertheless shapable material, such as a heavy metal foil or ribbon, or the like, which will fit within the loop formed by the elastic strip 34b. The strip 70 is shown in fiat form in FIG. 7, and it can lie freely against the elastic strip, or the two strips can be con nected, e.g. by means of tabs 72, which can be adhesively secured to the elastic strip, or can extend through openings cut in the wall of the elastic strip. In FIG. 8 there is shown the strip 70 after it has been corrugated to suit the indvidual Wearers tastes with respect to forming creases or dimples in his tie. In FIG. 9 there is shown the complete tie guide assembled with the tie 24. The elastic strip 34b, as illustrated, is provided with snap fastener parts 39 and 40, and with finger tabs 41 and 42, in the manner. of the elastic strip 34 previously described.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-9 is particularly suitable for the shaping of extra wide ties and makes possible the easier handling of the variable texture of the materials commonly used in such wider ties. The combined retention pressure of the elastic strip and the metallic strip, in combination with the hollow tie knot cone, preserves the creases shaped into the apron when the knot is completed. The use of the metallic strip permits any variety of creases the tie fabric may be disposed to take. The wider the tie, the more varied the creases may be.

It is to be noted that by the use of any of the forms of the device described, the shell of the tie used for the face of the knot need not be drawn tight. This permits a fuller and more natural shaping of the knot. It also frees it from the obvious strain of knotting, since the device supplies the shaping pressure. It thus permits control of the size and the shape of the knot cone in keeping with the opening of the shirt collar, viz. Whether it be wide or narrow.

It will be understood that, in one of its simplest forms,

the necktie guide device of this invention can consist solely of the elastic strip 34b, with the strip 70 omitted. This form of the invention is most suitably used with a bow tie 75, since the knot 76 is less bulky than Windsor or four-in-hand knots, as seen in FIG. 10.

It Will also be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the forms of embodiment described and illustrated Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and it is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A necktie guide device comprising a flexible elastic strip formed to contain a necktie and having adjacent spaced-apart portions provided with cooperating fastener means for removably fastening the adjacent portions together in face-to-face relationship and to form a projection for shaping the central crease in the necktie when knotted, said spaced-apart portions of the strip being the ends of the strip and said projection being defined by said ends.

2. A necktie guide device as defined in claim 1, further comprising finger-grip tabs adjacent said cooperating fastener means.

3. A necktie guide device comprising a flexible elastic strip formed to contain a necktie and having adjacent spaced-apart portions provided with cooperating fastener means for removably fastening the adjacent portions together in face-to-face relationship and to form a projection for shaping the central crease in the necktie when knotted, and finger-grip tabs adjacent said cooperating fastener means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,849 9/ 1939 Peters 2150 2,402,291 6/1946 Newman 2-153 2,735,107 2/1956 Myers 2-153 2,754,518 7/1956 Vary 2153 2,774,971 12/1956 Schrade 2153 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A NECKTIE GUIDE DEVICE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ELASTIC STRIP FORMED TO CONTAIN A NECKTIE AND HAVING ADJACENT SPACED-APART PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH COOPERATING FASTENER MEANS FOR REMOVABLY FASTENING THE ADJACENT PORTIONS TOGETHER IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP AND TO FORM A PROJECTION FOR SHAPING THE CENTRAL CREASE IN THE NECKTIE WHEN KNOTTED, SAID SPACED-APART PORTIONS OF THE STRIP BEING THE ENDS OF THE STRIP SAID PROJECTION BEING DEFINED BY SAID ENDS. 